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Late war tiger stripe shirt patched with H Co 75th Inf. Reg. 1st Cav


Zirni
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Hey guys,

I recently got a fully patched tiger shirt with LT H Co 1st Cav called Davidson. See pics:

http://www.bilderhoster.net/g/5jja32v1.html

 

The shirt is a late war heavy weight tadpole pattern with black buttons.

For me the the patches look all viet made and good and they are all sewn with the same white thread.

The black stripes inside the shirt where the paches are sewn on look like to have the same fade like where the patches are not sewn on.

 

This let me doubt that this composition is not an authentic one.

After doing research in the internet i only found one person named Davidson who served as LT in the 1st Cav:

http://www.thehealingplace.org/jay-davidson-the-man-behind-the-model

 

But i m not sure if this is the man ????

 

My thoughts are:

- is this composition original? Or was this shirt patched by the original owner in the war or maybe patched after the war by him?

But this has to mean that there was a man called Davidson who served as a LT ranger in the H Co after february 1969.

- or is it just a put togeather by someone who wanted to gain money?

 

Thanks a lot for any help. Maybe someone of you can give some advice.

 

Thanks a lot

 

Zirni

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Thanks 63 RECON. I tried posting the pics directly but size was to big. And handeling with the smartphone was not that easy :-)

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Spike might be right about the insignia but there looks to be some puckering behind the name tape and other insignia.

 

The link you posted about Davidson doesn't mention him being a LRRP and also no Lt Davidson appears in the MACV Recondo school roster.

 

Jay Borman who wrote the LRRP book might now something more.

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Thanks very much for all your replys and thoughts about the shirt and patches.

 

Owen

You mentioned you have a similar one where you also have doubts about? Or a similar shirt which looks nearly like this composition?

 

 

Yeah, unfortunatly there is no evidence of this mr davidson of beeing lrrp or ranger.

so it could be the wrong one as well?

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As in the shirt has gathered where the patches are sewn which normally means the patches have been on for some time. Hard to tell 100% without the shirt in hand.

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Ah ok. Thanks for the advice.

 

What do you think about the fade of the patches?

Does this match the fade of the shirt itself?

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Yes it looks like consistent wear and fading on both patches and shirt. This is not necessarily meaning that they have always belonged together as insignia was recycled.

 

The name tape, U.S. Army and 1st cav are nice in country made patches. The CIB is not I believe. The scroll I'm not sure about as I'm not really an expert but it certainly looks like it.

 

Also looks like a good imprint from the U.S. Army tape into the shirt which is a good sign.

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It is hard to tell.

 

What people are saying is look at the patches, especially on the inside of the shirt.

 

If they have been there for a long time, they should have left and impression into the shirt. The 1st CAV patch and the Ranger scroll do not look like they have pressed into the fabric of the shirt. You do not see much in the way of puckering or shrinkage around the thread holding them to the shirt.

 

From your photos, it does not look like the 1st CAV patch and the Ranger scroll are properly lined up with each other, or the sleeve itself. The 1st CAV patch looks like it is angled towards the front rather than pointing straight down to the bottom of the sleeve. It also was not sewn on properly... you can see the surface wrinkles where it was not sewn flat to the sleeve.

 

I am not too sure about the US Army tape. When you see loose white threads it could be a sign that the tape has been used before and resewn.

Also the back of the US Army tape looks like it has some green thread from a previous sewing.

 

Before we totally disregard this shirt, it is possible that it was made for use by a veteran for parade purposes. But for all of the reasons mentioned, I think it needs to be looked at very carefully before saying it was worn during the Vietnam period.

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post-117117-0-55486700-1443758741.jpg

 

 

That is one of those South Vietnamse made cloth CIBs, they came on both OD Twill or OD Cotton Sateen.

 

post-34986-0-87481100-1443932838.jpg

 

At least a couple more are seen here in this topic post #39 on, no doubt more around in other topic on Nam uniforms and or units.

 

http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/19229-the-25th-infantry-division-in-vietnam/page-2

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you're right Patches, sometimes hard to tell the difference between the SEA made CIBs on twill and US made on twill.

This one is easily identified by the round oval like wreath and ill defined musket.

 

Here,s one on the OD Sateen fatigue material.

post-34986-0-29814800-1443935541.jpg

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Wow, i m impressed by the dynamic of your participation here on this topic.

Thank you all very much.

 

gwb123

I ll take some new sharper and better pics of the left sleave and the patches.

Maybe it ll help to find more facts.

 

Patches

You ve got an sharp eye....thanks for your comment

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For some reasons, ERDL and TS material do not always "pucker" as OG jungle jacket material does. Keep it in mind.

 

As far as your shirt is concerned, it is hard to tell without holding it. But from the pictures, it doesn't look bad.

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